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APRIL, 1986
crowning element of the shrine is a thick and broad beki surmounted by a large amalaka.
34. Stele Carved with a Seated Rsabhanatha and Sixteen Rows of Jinas in Kayotsarga.
Height 51 cms
Circa 9th Century A.D. Plate Nos. 25 and 26
This unique rectangular stele of chlorite schist is broken at the top right hand corner. On a reconstruction it was found to contain 360 miniature figures of Jinas in kayotsarga disposed in sixteen terraces, besides a seated figure of Rsabhanatha. The figure of Rsabhanatha is placed on the top of the stele along the breadth of the first and second ledges. He is depicted as being seated in padmāsana and attended by camaradharas. Below his lotus seat is shown his lanchana, the bull, placed between two crouching lions. Vidyadhara figure carved in conventional cloud forms can be seen above his head. Each of the sixteen terraces is bordered by a band in relief. The number of Tirthankaràs in each register as well as their dimension varies. On the lowest register at each corner is a figure of a kneeling devotee in añjali-mudrā.
The sixteen ledges visualized the following numbers of Tirthankaras from the upper-most plane downwards :50
Nos. of Ledges
Nos. of Tirthankaras
1
Jain Education International
23456
20 (10) 20 (10)
23 (17)
24
21
21
24
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 16
50 The figures in the bracket indicates the number of Jina figures now existing.
222222222
24
24
23
23
23
23
149
23
23
21
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